Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential high school graduation rates in New York increased by nearly two percent last year, according to data released by the state Education Department on Mon., Jan. 11. The June graduation rate among students who graduated in 2015, was 78.1 percent statewide. That is up from more than 76 percent the previous year, and nearly 75 percent the year before that. The dropout rate last year 6.6 percent. Graduation rates increased for each of Big 5 city school districts — New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers. Capital Region graduation rates were not immediately available in the materials released Monday morning. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.